The 2023-24 NBA season was quite uneventful for the Washington Wizards, to say the least, but in the case of the 14-win team, there isn’t much else to go up from here and drastic moves are to be made to establish the once contending franchise back into that realm of play.
A potential acquisition revolving around Mitchell Robinson and the Washington Wizards is gaining more and more traction everyday. The New York Knicks have made it evident they’re looking to move forward with their big man, Isaiah Hartenstein anyways with a deal reaching as much as 80 million dollars and 4 years. Paying the duo large contracts doesn’t make much sense as Robinson is still under contract for the next two years. Obtaining a player of equal production with less of a paycheck makes obvious sense for the New York Knicks.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley:
“The fact that Mitchell Robinson’s name has come up in some of the Knicks’ trade conversations with opposing teams isn’t all that surprising,” Begley wrote. “The Wizards are among the teams whose talks with the Knicks have included dialogue on Robinson. I’m sure several other teams have talked to New York about Robinson.”
Robinson Can Provide the Washington Wizards with a Stable Front Court
While Robinson was the starter at the beginning of the season, but reoccurence of an ankle problem powered down the 26 year old big man, thus Isaiah Hartenstein emerged as the big man for New York.
Coming off a succesful ankle surgery, Mitchell Robinson can make substanital improvements to the lack of a front court the Wizards have currently. Known primarily for his ferosity on defense and rebounding, Robinson has shown glimpses off how much power he truly has in the paint and can operate very well in a two man game if given the opportunity. This potential could help Jordan Poole slow down his game and work under an actual system, something that seemed to be absent from the Wizards playbook all of last year.
While this move sounds excellent for Washington, Robinson is still a valuable asset and the Knicks would be foolish to not entertain the best offer possible. Here’s how the Wizards can make both sides happy and get a solid player in return.
Goga Bitadze Goes Broadway
The former first round pick has never really got his foot in the door of the NBA. Appearing for the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic; however, his role is what is is and it has gained the attention of the New York Knicks. Filling in as a backup center for Isaiah Hartenstein, Bitadze offers much of the same production with the ability to also stretch the court, something the Knicks could utilize exponentially.
In this case, the New York Knicks forfeit Mitchell Robinson’s gauranteed 60 million and trade for a relevant target to their system at a much cheaper price and move forward with Hartenstein as well as freeing up more cap space to bring OG Anunoby as well.
Of course, the Knicks can’t move on anything until they have a definite status from Isaiah Hartenstein who is expected to return under a gargatuan deal relative to his production, but it seems as if they’re already predicting to get Hartenstein ink and paper immediately.
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